Improved machine for cutting sugar into blocks



G D. JONES.

Machine for Cutting Sugar into Blocks.

Patented Nov. 10, 1868.-

N. PETERS. Phulo-Luhogmpher, Wnshinglon. ac.

citeda tater I 99 waew was GILBERT D. JONES, Oli BROOKLYN, E. D., NEW YORK.

Letters Patent No. 83,972, dated November 10, 1868.

IMPROVED MACHINE FOR CUTTING SUGAR INTO BLOCKS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the Same.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, GILBERT D. J ONES, of Brooklyn, E. 1)., in the county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Machines for Making Sugar into Blocks, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 represents a front view of a machine for making sugar into blocks, as constructed in accordance with my improvement;

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse section of the same, taken at right angles to fig. 1

Figure 3 is an inverted plan of the upper dividingtable; and

Figure 4, a transverse section of the same in part.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

My invention consists First, in a combination of sharp or pointed dividers or pins, arranged to project from sin-faces or tables, in lines corresponding to the proiile'of the blocks to be formed, and having, by the action of said'tables, or either of them, motion at intervals towards and from each other, to cifect splitting of a slab of sugar into blocks of uniform size.

Secondly, the invention consists in a hinged or swinging attachment of the one of said tables relatively to the other, whereby increased facility is aliorded for feeding on the slabs of sugar, and delivery of the blocks.

Thirdly, the invention includes a combination, with the one of said tables which is arranged to rise and fall, of a monkey or hammer, operating to depress such table with its dividers OfClliJiiBlS, to eifect separation of the slab into blocks.

Fourthly, the invention embraces a combination, with the hammer and table it serves to strike, of a spring arranged to give impetus to the hammer at starting, and whereby a sharp and rapid blow is given to the table, to secure a clean division of the slab into blocks.

In the accompanying drawing, A A represent sideframes to the machine, B, its base or bed plate, and O,its top or cap-plate. Hinged or supported on trunnions, as at a. a, to or playing in brackets in rear of the side-flame A A, is a table, D, provided on its upper surface with any suitable number of sharp dividers or pointed pins 1), arranged in'lines intersecting each other, so as to form figures of square, lozenge, or other desired shape.

E is an upper dividing-table, arranged to lie over the table D, when the latter is turned or swung upwards to occupy a horizontal position The table E rests on springs c c and is hung or disposed, to have a free position, they lie in the same vertical planes as the pins 11. Both sets of pins or projections 11 and e it is pre-.

ferred to make of polygonal shape, with sharpened cd es.

The table D is lifted intermittently, or at intervals, from the position shown for it by black lines in fig. 1, and red lines in fig. 2, to a horizontal position, as represented by black lines in fig. 2, by or tlnough wipers F F, made fast to the faces of revolving wheels G G, and acting against or under toes H H, fast on the trunuions or shaft of the swinging table D; said wipers and toes being so shaped and arranged, that after each lift of such table, which takes place once in the revolution of the wipers, the said table remains or is held for a short period of time in its raised or horizontal position, and afterwards suddenly drops.

The sugar to be made into blocks, is first cut or formed into slabs of the required thickness or width of the blocks, and a slab introduced or fed on to the table 1), or rather pins b thereof, each time that said table rises, or whilst it rises, and shortly before it reaches its horizontal position, when, as it remainsstationary in such position, the upper table E, with its pins 0, is suddenly. brought down on to the slab, which causes the pinsb and e to enter or project into the sugar, and to split or divide it into blocks of the required shape and size. After this the table E flies upwards or back, by the action of the springs c c, and the lower or swinging table D is allowed to drop, by the release of the wipers I? ll, fiom contact with the toes H H, which causes the blocks of sugar tobe delivered from off the table D, the latter, in swinging back, striking a stop, f, and thereby producing jar that operates to detach the blocks, should there be any tendency of them to stick on or between the pins 1), said stop also serving .to adjust the table D, so that the toes H H, connected with it, will be in proper position for the wipers, in their succeeding action, to lift them and said table, for a repe tition of the dividing-operation on another slab. The table D may be provided'with short stops or projections in front, to prevent the slipping off of the slab on introducing it to orupon said table, or pins 1) thereof.

In effecting the division or separation of each slab into blocks, it is necessary or advisable that the upper table E, or pins 0 thereof, should be brought down by a sharp stroke or blow uponthe sugar. It is preferred to use pins in preference to knives on the faces of the tables D and E, not only effecting the division or separation of the sugar in an easier and lighter manner, but because said pins split or divide the sugar into blocks in a cleaner way, that is, with less breaking, or greater freedom from jag or roughness to the edges of the blocks, than a cutting-operation, as by knives, could eilect. Knives or cutters, may, however, if desired, be used. The division of the slab into blocks might .be produced by having both tables D and E move towards each other, instead of only the one table being made to move while effecting the separation but it is preferred to give the one table D a swinging motion, as

described, and to bring it to a state of rest while the division is being made; nor, by the construction here shown of the wipers F F and toes H H, need this be attendled with any pause in the general motion of the machine, or of the \vipersF F, as, after the latter have by contact of their ends or points lifted the toes H H, and table Dwith which said toes are connected,th'e backs of the wipers, in travelling past or against the ,toes, serve to support, for the necessary period of time to effect the separation of the slab into blocks, said toes and table D. The timely operation or down-strokeof the table E, in a sharp or rapid manner, is or may be produced by means of a monkey or hammer, I, provided with a toe, J, against or under which a revolving wiper, K, attached toa shaft, L, in gear, by wheels M M, with the wheels G G, is brought to bear, toeffect lift of the hammer, the down-stroke or striking-action of which on the table E, (when released from lift,) in a sharp or rapid, manner, to give to the table E, and its dividers or cutters, the required dividing-operation, may be expedited or made more forcible by causing the hammer, towards the end of its up-stroke, to act against a spring, N, which in its reaction, after the wiper K has passed from under the toe J, operates to give a downward impetus or start to the hammer.

'To secure this action, the spring N, which is connected at its ends with the cap-plate 0, may be passed through a slot, s, made in the stem of the hammer, the bottom of said slot acting against the spring, and being acted upon by the latter, as the hammer is raised and commences its descent.

What is here claimed, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of the dividers or pins 1) ande, arranged toproject at suitable distances apart from surfaces or tables, in lines corresponding to the desired profile of the blocks to be produced, and made to approach and recede from each other at intervals, to effect splitting of the slab into blocks or uniform size, substantially as herein set forth.

2. The table 1), provided with dividers or cutters on. its face, and hinged or arranged to swing relatively to a table, E, also provided with dividers or cutters, for 

